Programme outline
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Analyse the historical development and material characteristics of reinforced concrete in heritage contexts, including its structural behaviour and construction techniques.
- Diagnose common deterioration mechanisms affecting historic reinforced concrete, including carbonation, chloride ingress, corrosion of reinforcement, cracking, and spalling.
- Evaluate the condition of reinforced concrete structures using appropriate inspection methods and diagnostic tools, and interpret assessment data to inform conservation decisions.
- Assess structural and material performance in the context of heritage significance, balancing technical requirements with conservation principles.
- Develop appropriate conservation and repair strategies for reinforced concrete, including selection of materials, intervention methods, and compatibility considerations.
- Justify intervention approaches based on conservation ethics, international charters, and local regulatory frameworks.
- Propose lifecycle and service-life extension strategies that integrate durability, sustainability, and long-term maintenance planning.
- Communicate technical findings and conservation proposals effectively through structured oral presentations and written reports.
Day 1
Session 1 – Evolution and Historical Development of Reinforced Concrete
- Evolution of reinforced concrete technology
- Production and construction methods
- Development in Singapore
- Early architectural and structural typologies
Session 2 – Architectural Significance and Material Characteristics
- Architectural expression of early reinforced concrete
- Structural logic of early systems
- Inherent material vulnerabilities
- Construction quality and detailing issues
Session 3 – International Conservation Charters and Modern Materials
- Conservation doctrine
- Applicability of charters to modern materials
- Authenticity in reinforced concrete
- Heritage parameters versus performance parameters
Session 4 – Ethical and Regulatory Thresholds for Intervention
- Balancing structural safety and heritage value
- When repair becomes replacement
- Regulatory approval considerations
- Case-based ethical discussion
Day 2
Session 5 – Material Science of Reinforced Concrete
- Chemical, physical, mechanical properties
- Hydration process
- Design mix
- Durability fundamentals
Session 6 – Deterioration Mechanisms and Defect Analysis
- Carbonation
- Reinforcement corrosion
- ASR
- Cracking
- Chemical attack
- Fire damage
- Leaching
Session 7 – Structural Behaviour and Historic Design Codes
- Historic design methodologies
- Comparison with contemporary codes
- Limit states versus allowable stress
- Implications for conservation
Session 8 – Structural Assessment Methodologies
- Load evaluation
- Capacity assessment
- Safety margins
- Upgrade thresholds
Day 3
Session 9 – Condition Assessment of Existing Structures
- Structural vs non-structural defects
- Inspection methodologies
- Documentation
Session 10 – Diagnostic and Non-Destructive Testing
- NDT principles
- Interpretation of results
- Laboratory testing
- Service life estimation
Session 11 – Intervention Techniques
- Cleaning
- Patch repair
- Cathodic protection
- Strengthening
- Protection systems
Session 12 – Conservation Strategy Integration (Decision Framework)
- Diagnosis to decision to intervention logic
- Case study application
Day 4
Session 13 – Sustainability and Embodied Carbon in Concrete Conservation
- Embodied carbon in cement and reinforced concrete
- Carbon implications of repair vs replacement
- Strengthening systems and material addition
- Comparative carbon reasoning in intervention strategies
Session 14 – Service Life Extension and Lifecycle Decision-Making
- Service life modelling in reinforced concrete
- Durability design and life extension strategies
- Maintenance cycles and lifecycle costing
- Sustainability versus authenticity tension
- Case-based decision comparison
Session 15 – Site Visit / Demonstration
- Repair observation
- Strengthening systems
- Defect identification
- Applied learning
The site visit serves as a key input to the team-based project. During the site visit, participants will document key observations, including visible defects, deterioration patterns, material conditions, and potential causes of distress. These observations will be recorded using guided templates and will form part of the evidence base for the team-based project analysis and proposed conservation strategy.
Day 5 (Half day)
Session 16 – From Diagnosis to Conservation Strategy
- Review of significance, condition, diagnosis, risk, intervention, sustainability, and maintenance logic
- Group-based diagnosis of a historic reinforced concrete case
- Identification of defects, likely causes, uncertainties, and further investigation needs
- Selection and justification of appropriate conservation interventions
- Ethical discussion on repair, strengthening, replacement, authenticity, and regulatory thresholds
- Sustainability and service-life considerations in conservation decision-making
- Project discussion
- Structured project guidance
Day 6 (Half day)
- Final ssessment
- Quiz + presentation
Assessment
Assessment will comprise both individual and team-based components designed to evaluate participants’ understanding of conservation principles, diagnostic skills, and ability to apply intervention strategies.
- Class participation: 10%
- In-class quizzes: 20%
- Final individual quiz: 5%
- Project presentation: 40%
- Project report: 20%
- Peer review and reflection: 5%
The combined project presentation and report constitute the major applied component of the course, while quizzes assess individual understanding of key concepts and technical knowledge.